B. Simons
The gateway to the world for Rhine shipping from Basel to the world's oceans is not Hamburg, but Rotterdam, as is well known. From January 2025, Berte Simons will be at the helm there as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the port authority, succeeding Boudewijn Siemons in day-to-day operations.
After completing her training as a naval officer, Berte Simons began her career in 2003 as a policy advisor at North Sea Port, where she worked until 2006. From 2006 to 2021, she held various management positions at the international consulting and engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV, where she led international projects in the mining, heavy industry, aviation, and maritime sectors.
Berte Simons currently works at Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) as Director of the CO2 Storage & Transport Systems business unit. In this position, she is closely involved in the Porthos project, which the Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing jointly with Gasunie and EBN.
Interface to inland navigation.
She is now joining the Executive Board, succeeding Boudewijn Siemons, who was appointed CEO and Interim COO in February 2024. Effective January 1, 2025, the Port Authority's Executive Board will thus consist of CEO Boudewijn Siemons, CFO Vivienne de Leeuw, and COO Berte Simons. The Port Authority's shareholders, the City of Rotterdam and the Dutch government, appointed Berte Simons for a four-year term upon the recommendation of the Supervisory Board.
“The Supervisory Board is delighted that Berte Simons wants to contribute her extensive expertise as a marine engineer to port operations,” says Supervisory Board Chairman Koos Timmermans. With her international experience in managing large and complex infrastructure projects in ports and industrial areas, she brings the knowledge and experience “that we need for a successful and coordinated transition to a fossil-free and circular port.”
B. Siemons. Photos: PoR
Berte Simons, speaking about his own role: “As COO of the port authority, everything comes together for me. The port is a constantly evolving place, connected to the whole world. It’s a place where the activities of industry, logistics, and the local community converge. I look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to contribute to the sustainable development of the port in harmony with the environment.”
